{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from December 2016

STAGS BEATEN AT HOME BY MORECAMBE IN TERRIBLE GAME
29th December 2016 22:13


English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town 0 - 1 Morecambe
Fleming 13
Attendance: 3237 (79 from Morecambe)

Date: 26 December 2016

Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town were beaten 1-0 at home by Morecambe this afternoon in a truly terrible game. Despite a lot of possession and 13 corners, the Stags created very few clearcut chances and rarely looked like scoring against the team with the worst goal difference in the league. Mansfield were hopeless in the first half, and having gone behind on 13 minutes, didn’t look like scoring until Pat Hoban fired just wide on 43 minutes with a good effort just past the left post. So 1-0 to Morecambe at the break and that is now 15 home league and cup games out of 15 this season in which Mansfield have failed to score at home in the first half. The second half wasn’t much better with Mansfield only looking like scoring when Kyle Howkins unleashed a powerful drive from 20 yards which the keeper parried out to Danny Rose, who could only fire the rebound against the post with the goal gaping. After that, Morecambe wound the clock down expertly. The only goal of the game had come on 13 minutes, as Rhys Turner got past Howkins just outside the area, squared for Peter Murphy, who swept a shot goalwards from close range which was well parried by Scott Shearer, but Andrew Fleming was quickest to the loose ball to fire into the empty net. Stags defenders appealed in vain for a handball in the build-up to the goal, but there was no infringement. So an afternoon as frustrating as they come for the Stags fans. An awful performance, the Stags deserved nothing from the game, and will have to play very much better if they are get anything from the game against top-of-the-table Doncaster on Saturday. The transfer window opens after that, before the trip to Blackpool on Monday. It looks like plenty of changes will be needed if the Stags are to have any chance of a play-off push. The Stags are currently 8 points off the play-offs and 5 above the relegation zone.

FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE

-----------------------------------

Mansfield Town beaten at home to Morecambe
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 26 December 2016

The festive fizz turned flat as Mansfield Town were beaten 1-0 at home by Morecambe in a damp squid of a Boxing Day clash this afternoon. Andrew Fleming’s 13th minute strike proved decisive on a freezing, wind-blown afternoon low on chances and quality. Danny Rose did hit the Morecambe post after the break, but the visitors held onto what they had with relative comfort as Stags went a fourth League game without a win. The home side bossed possession and had a corner count of 12-2 in their favour, but the Shrimps stood firm. It was a fourth home defeat of the season, a third game without scoring and, amazingly, Mansfield have still not found the net in the first half of a home game all season.

Read more at: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-beaten-at-home-to-morecambe-1-8306306

Boss Steve Evans made two changes as defender Kyle Howkins, back from injury, and striker Darius Henderson came in for the suspended Mal Benning and midfielder Kevan Hurst, Howkins turning in an excellent display on his return from injury. Stags were looking for their first win in four League games while the Shrimps had only won twice in 10 League games. A tame opening was punctuated only by cheers as a Morecambe clearance out the ground ended up with the ball stuck in a tree. It took seven minutes for Stags to create some danger as Collins curled a ball in from the left which beat everyone and went out for a goalkick before Green could get there at the far post. But the visitors almost caught Stags napping with a training ground routine from their first corner on 10 minutes as Rose pulled it back low for the incoming McGowan, who was too high with his free shot from 20 yards. Stags went straight upfield and Hemmings sent a tame, low shot at the keeper from 25 yards. Fleming bundled a half-chance wide from a long throw from the right on 13 minutes as the Shrimps threatened again. And in that same 13th minute they went ahead. Pearce failed to get any distance on a header and Turner was able to get down the left and square to Murphy whose attempt was well saved by Shearer, but Fleming was on hand to poke home the loose ball from five yards. Stags had two corners in a row defended and forced three more in succession soon after, but failed to test Roche. On 26 minutes Green almost levelled matters as Hemmings lifted the ball into the centre from the left and Green’s flicked header was tipped over by Roche for corner number seven. On the half-hour mark Fleming came close again, but his shot from a very tight angle on the right was always going over the bar. On 36 minutes Clements was barged over but the referee played on. The midfielder made his feelings known and was booked. Mansfield plugged away, dominating possession and pushing forward and two minutes from the break Green headed the ball down for Hoban to sent a low shot narrowly wide of the left post. The half ended with a corner count of 8-1 in favour of Stags but home fans disgruntled with the standard of the first 45 minutes’ entertainment. It was yet another half without a home goal, stretching back to April. Hamilton replaced Henderson for the second half and forced an early corner, while Hoban guided an early header wide as Stags began on the front foot. On a 50th minute break Hoban had a powerful shot beaten away at the near post for an 11th home corner. Stags made their second change up front on 61 minutes as Danny Rose replaced Hoban. The home side should have been level on 63 minutes. Clements squared the ball to Howkins, in space just outside the box, and his blast was parred by Roche with Danny Rose poking the rebound against the right post. Hamilton went on a powerful run at the Shrimps’ defence but fired wide. Then Shearer had to get down to block Turner’s attempt to cross after bursting into the box and also smothered Fleming’s follow-up with the goal gaping. Michael Rose tried to catch Shearer napping with an attempt from a free kick wide on the right, but the keeper was well placed. Winnard brought down Rose on 72 minutes and then refused to move 10 yards from the free kick to earn a booking. Shearer did well to dive on the ball at the feet of Murphy on 75 minutes, the Morecambe man’s dive for a penalty earning him a booking. Jack Thomas was sent on for McGuire on 76 minutes to give Stags more forward impetus. But Morecambe defended superbly, Wildig added to the book for kicking the ball away. At the whistle new boss Evans heard boos from the stand for the first time.

STAGS: Shearer, Bennett, Pearce, Howkins, Collins, McGuire (Thomas 76), Clements, Hemmings, Green, Hoban (Danny Rose 61), Henderson (Hamilton). Subs: Jensen, Mitchell Rose, Baxendale, Hurst.

MORECAMBE: Roche, McGowan, Edwards, Winnard, Murphy, Ellison (Wildog 83), Conlan, Fleming, Turner (Mullin 76), Jennings, Michael Rose. Subs: Nizie, Molyneux, Massanka, Jordan.

REFEREE: Mark Haywood of West Yorkshire.

ATTENDANCE: 3,237 (79 away).

CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Kyle Howkins.

-----------------

Mansfield Report
Mon 26 Dec 2016
morecambefc.co.uk

Match Report: Mansfield Town 0-1 Morecambe

ANDY Fleming’s first goal of the season saw the Shrimps warn a vital three points at Mansfield.

Fleming scored the only goal of the game on 13 minutes as the Shrimps produced a superb defensive display to record their first clean sheet since September to seal a fine win.

Read more at http://www.morecambefc.com/news/article/2016-17/match-report-mansfield-town-0-1-morecambe-3486753.aspx#m84AvPsd0FHh68UD.99

Boss Jim Bentley made three changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Cheltenham with Kevin Ellison, Aaron McGowan and James Jennings all returning to the side with Liam Wakefield and Alex Kenyon ruled out and Paul Mullin dropping to the bench.

The Shrimps took the lead in the 13th minute when Andy Fleming was in the right place at the right time to slot home the loose ball from six yards out after Scott Shearer had saved Peter Murphy’s shot following a good lay off from Rhys Turner.

From there the Shrimps had to endure a great deal of Mansfield pressure but were only rarely troubled by the home side.

The closest Mansfield came to getting back into the game was when Danny Rose hit the post when he had the full goal at his mercy after Barry Roche had saved neatly from Kyle Howkins’s long range effort.

Roche had to be at his best again in the first half when he tipped over a looping header from Matt Green that was destined for the top corner of the Morecambe goal.

Pat Hoban went close for the home side with a snapshot from the edge of the area that brushed the right hand post.

Despite being on the back foot for long periods Morecambe had chances of their own in the first half when Aaron McGowan fired over from Michael Rose’s short corner and Fleming volleyed well wide from a good opening.

But in the end it was the Shrimps’ defence that took the plaudits with their first clean sheet since September to move to 26 points in the table.

MANSFIELD: Shearer, Bennett, Howkins, Pearce, Collins, McGuire (rep Thomas 76), Clements, Green, Hemmings, Henderson 9REP Hamilton 46), Hoban (rep D Rose 61). Subs not used: Jensen, Baxendale, Hurst, M Rose.

MORECAMBE: Roche, Winnard, Edwards, Jennings, McGowan, Rose, Murphy, Fleming, Conlan, Ellison (rep Wildig 83), Turner (rep Mullin 76) Subs not used: Nizic, Molyneux, Massanka, Jordan..

Ref: M Haywood.

Att: 3,237.

-----------------------

 

Latest | December 2016